Then those who had said the delay was caused by the doctor being new to the trail began to crow, but only for a while, as Landlord Larry, who was gazing through a field-glass at the approaching stage, called out: "There are only four horses--two are missing, for some reason." It was now all conjecture as to the cause of delay. Again Landlord Larry had something to say, and it was to the effect that the coach was not dashing along with its accustomed speed in coming in at the end of the trail, that Doctor Dick was on the box, and alone, while he seemed to drive in a very careful manner, very different from his going away on his drive out. Nearer and nearer came the coach up the valley, every eye upon it, and all wondering, guessing, and asserting their views of what had happened. "The doctor is there, that is certain," said one. "Two horses have been killed," another remarked. "He may have lost them in the bad roads," was an answer. "Perhaps they were shot down by road-agents." "He has no passengers." "See how he drives." "He comes on as slow as a snail." "See, he is driving with one hand." "What does that mean?" "His left hand is hanging by his side." "He has surely been wounded." And so the comments ran around, as all stood watching the coming coach, which half an hour after coming in sight rolled up to the hotel, came to a halt and was greeted with a wild chorus of cheers from the assembled miners. The crowd that gazed at Doctor Dick saw that his handsome face was very pale, his eyes had a haggard look, and his teeth were firmly set. They knew that he had passed through some dread ordeal, and a silence fell upon all, awaiting for him to speak. They saw that his left arm was carried in a sling, his handkerchief knotted around his neck, and that a red stain was upon his sleeve. Furthermore, they saw that the two wheel-horses were missing, the center pair having been put back in their place. Upon opening the stage door to see if there were any passengers, Landlord Larry started back as the dead form of a man pitched out on his head. The door being open it was seen that a second form was in the coach, all in a heap in one corner. There were red stains upon the steps, and upon the leather cushions, and everything indicated that the stage had run a death-gantlet. But, excepting for his pale, stern face, the doctor was as serene as a May morn, though his voice showed weakness when he spoke. "I'll ask your aid, landlord, for I am weakened from loss of blood. Bind my arm up to stop the flow and I'll see how serious the wound is." He said no more, but was at once aided from the box and over to his cabin, Landlord Larry leaving his clerk to look after the mails and the dead passengers. Arriving at the cabin Doctor Dick had his coat-sleeve slit open and the bandage he had tied about his arm removed. His silk shirt-sleeve was also cut, and then the wound was revealed in the fleshy part of the arm.